A study by IVF-Life shows that the origin of the egg influences the chromosomal stability of the embryo, suggesting that the use of donor eggs could be especially beneficial in women with low ovarian reserve or advanced maternal age.
A new study conducted by the IVF-Life Alicante group and led by embryologist Nuria Soler has revealed that the use of donor eggs in in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments is associated with a higher proportion of chromosomally normal embryos and a more stable genetic profile. In contrast, the origin of the sperm, whether own or donor, showed no clear influence on the genetic profile of the embryos.
The work, which will be presented at the ASEBIR 2025 Congress, is based on the analysis of more than 1,500 embryos and sheds light on a key aspect in reproductive medicine: how the origin of the gametes influences embryonic euploidy, that is, the correct chromosome complement of the embryos.
Developing embryo
The researchers analyzed a total of 1,561 blastocyst-stage embryos, obtained in IVF cycles with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A), carried out between 2023 and 2024. The embryos were cultured in incubators with time-lapse technology, which allows continuous monitoring of their development.
As a result, donor eggs generated a euploid embryo rate of 70%, compared to 44.6% obtained with own eggs. This difference remained even after adjusting the data for maternal age.
Furthermore, the type of chromosomal abnormalities also varied according to the origin of the egg. With own oocytes, more complex aneuploidies were observed, such as multiple trisomies and monosomies, while with donor eggs, simpler abnormalities predominated, such as isolated monosomies or small segmental losses/gains.
“The origin of the oocyte has a significant impact on both the euploidy rate and the complexity of embryonic aneuploidies,” explains embryologist Nuria Soler. “This reinforces the idea that oocyte quality is a determining factor in embryo viability.” This study shows oocyte quality as a primary cause of chromosomal instability and suggests that the use of donor eggs could be especially beneficial in women with low ovarian reserve or advanced maternal age.